Skip to Main Content.

Industries

Practices

Biography

John leads the firm’s Construction Practice Group and is the “go to” litigator for complex, “bet-the-company” construction litigation, arbitration and mediation. He has litigated cases throughout the United States. He has successfully defended, and prosecuted, multi-million dollar claims for various players in the construction industry. John is a panel arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and is also a private mediator. He has arbitrated and mediated cases throughout the United States.

John has lived as well as practiced law in Ohio’s three major cities: Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus. He is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States, the Ohio Supreme Court and several other Courts throughout the country.

Other Info About John

Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Fairfax Homes, Inc. v. Blue Belle, Inc., 2006 Ohio App. LEXIS 2116, 2006 Ohio 2261

Ross v. Cark, No. 02AP-222, 2003 Ohio App. LEXIS 2405 (May 22, 2003 Franklin Cty. Ct. App.)

Caton v. Bd. of Commrs, No. CC2001-0454, 2003 Ohio App. LEXIS 2110 (Apr. 29, 2003 Muskingum Cty. Ct. App.)

Haynes v. City of Franklin (2002), 95 Ohio St. 3d 344

Williams v. Cambridge Bd. of Educ., 186 F. Supp. 2d 808 (2002)

Education

Law School

Cleveland Marshall College of Law, J.D., 1997, cum laude
Spangenberg Trial Practice Award
CALI, Excellence for the Future Award, Capital Punishment Law
Corpus Juris Secundum Award for Scholastic Excellence in Contracts

Undergraduate School

University of Cincinnati, B.S., 1993, cum laude
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement

Clerkships

John served as a clerk for the court(s) and judge(s) below:

Past clerk for Cleveland Municipal Court

Appointed Special Counsel to the Attorney General of the State of Ohio for various construction, real estate and business matters

Bar Memberships

John is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Ohio, 1997

Courts

John is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

Supreme Court of the United States

Ohio Supreme Court

U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America®, Construction Law, 2014-2025, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2018, 2023; Litigation – Construction, 2024-2025

Selected for inclusion in Ohio Super Lawyers®, 2007, 2013-2024

Chambers USA, Construction, 2010-2024

Construction Lawyers Society of America, Fellow

Buckeye Boys State Graduate

Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers (“CALL”) Graduate and Academy Member

The Legal 500, Construction, 2011

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Trial Law Institute, Member

Diversity Law Institute, Member

Construction Lawyers Society of America, Member

Cincinnati Bar Association, Admission Committee, Member

Federal Bar Association, Member

Ohio State Bar Association, Member

AGC of Cincinnati, Board of Directors, Secretary

AGC of Ohio, Member

Allied Construction Industries, Board of Directors, Advocacy Committee, Diversity Committee and Entertainment Committee, Member

American Arbitration Association, Panel Member Arbitrator

American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Law, Member

Code News – A Journal on Building Law and Code Enforcement in Ohio, Editorial Advisory Board Member

Ohio Contractors Association, Member

Supreme Court of Ohio, Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program, Mentor

Surety Association of Ohio, Member

The Spirit of Construction Foundation, Board of Trustees, Executive Committee Member

Civic Activities

Civic & Charitable Organizations

ACE Mentor Program, Board of Directors (past)

Private Mediator

Commissioned Kentucky Colonel

Firm Committees

John serves or has served in the following leadership role(s) at Frost Brown Todd:

Recruiting Committee, past Member

Major Publications

John is an author or contributor to the following publications:

“Killer Contract Issues for GCs and Subs” (Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington )

“How to Get Paid – A Contractor’s Toolbox” (Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington )

“Don’t Bet The Company! — Insurance, Indemnity and the Big Risks”

“Best Practices For A Successful Project”

“Project and Claims Documentation & How to Deal With Problem Projects”

“Immigration Compliance: Past, Present, Future”

“Understanding The New Form Contracts: Consensus Docs and 2007 AIA”

“Ask The Legal Professional — How Can I Avoid Surprise Liens On My Construction Project From Unknown Subcontractors And/Or Suppliers?,” Business Courier, September 2004

“Choosing The Appropriate Construction Project Delivery System,” Business Courier, March 2005

“Design-Build Delivery Systems – Are They Right For You?,” Ohio Construction And Code Journal, September/October 2006

“2007 Revisions To Ohio Mechanics’ Lien Law,” Cincinnati Law Library News, July 2007

“Start The Clock! When Does A Claim Against The State “Accrue”?,” Ohio Construction And Code Journal, September/October 2007

“Ohio Lien Law Update – When Should A Notice Of Furnishing Be Submitted?,” Construction Law News Website, August 2010

“Public-Private Partnerships in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio: A Modest Past And A Promising Future,” University of Kentucky Construction Law Institute, March 2013

“Public-Private Partnerships as an Alternative To Traditional Public Procurement In Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio,” University of Kentucky Construction Law Institute, March 2013

“Nuts And Bolts of P3 Projects,” April 2015

Related Insights